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Desk Columns

COLUMN Good housing needs back-to-basics approach

There is renewed and intense focus on increasing the housing supply in Seoul. Officials in the Lee Jae Myung administration describe its housing policy as "dakgong," which in Korean both literal and figuratively means "shut up and supply." In early August, the government announced that it has plan to supply some 230,000 units, about 100,000 of which will come from designated public housing districts in the greater Seoul area. Just how the administration will do that has prompted questions about what makes for good housing. Seoul, the capital city replete with jobs, a strong public transportation system and other infrastructure, is crowed. Finding the right housing, rental or owned, that both fits within your budget and satisfies your needs is a tall order. On the house hunt for more than three decades, this writer was fortunate to have lived in a "guchuk," or apartment built in old style, block concrete with outdoor corridors. The structure of the apartment allowed for natural ventilation when windows on the veranda and the back corridor were simultaneously opened. Trees planted decades

3 MIN READBy Kim Ji-soo

OPINION Trump's Korea gamble: Putting politics ahead of vital alliance

U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest moves on the Korean Peninsula should alarm Seoul — not because Washington is considering renewed dialogue with Pyongyang, but because the president appears increasingly willing to subordinate a longstanding alliance to short-term political calculations. On the eve of the annual South Korea-U.S. military exercise, Trump ordered the Pentagon to “substantially” scale back the drills, citing their cost and allegedly provocative nature. More revealingly, he invoked his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He also complained that President Lee Jae Myung had declined his request for South Korean support for U.S.' military campaign against Iran. A day later, Trump said Kim had responded to his latest outreach for dialogue. The timing is difficult to dismiss as coincidence. Trump appears to be reviving the playbook of his first term: reduce military pressure on North Korea, emphasize his personal rapport with Kim and seek a dramatic leader-to-leader bargain. But the circumstances have changed profoundly. North Korea is mo

4 MIN READBy Shim Jae-yun

Hallyu meets heritage

The world's biggest pop group could have chosen virtually any backdrop for its latest teaser. Instead, BTS stood beneath the graceful eaves of Seonhyewon, a centuries-old hanok, a traditional wooden courtyard house, in Seoul, where polished floors, paper doors and quiet open space carried as much visual weight as the seven members themselves. It was a setting built not for spectacle but for reflection — an unlikely stage for one of the world's most recognizable entertainment acts. Built for reflection, contemplation and the slow rhythm of daily life, these traditional structures are increasingly serving as stages for global pop culture — broadcasting carefully crafted performances to millions around the world. That evolution hints at the next chapter of hallyu, the Korean wave that has propelled Korea's popular culture onto the global stage. For more than two decades, Korea's cultural success was measured largely by export metrics — streaming figures, overseas box-office receipts and positions on global music charts. Traditional culture often appeared as visual decoration, featured

3 MIN READBy Samuel Len

A century of loving silence

Manhae Han Yong-un (1879-1944) was a remarkable man. He was a Buddhist monk, a thinker, a radical reformer of Korean Buddhism, a poet, a novelist and a major figure in the struggle for Korean independence. He cared passionately about younger generations growing up in a rapidly changing land, deprived of its true identity. He was born on Aug. 29, 1879. On Aug. 29, 1910, Korea was officially annexed by Japan. On Aug. 29, 1926, Manhae published the collection of poems for which he is best remembered, "Nimui Chinmuk." His birth name was Han Yu-cheon. In 1905, when he became a Buddhist monk, his meditation master gave him the name Yong-un (Dragon Cloud). Manhae (Ten thousand seas) was his pen-name. "Nimui Chinmuk" was published just 100 ago this year. Celebrations have been organized, but we might wonder how many Koreans today spend much time reading its 88 poems, written in a language which is far removed from the Korean spoken or written today. But those who grew up reading it in Korean language textbooks in school never quite forget the resonance the poem of same title evoked. On the cen

4 MIN READBy Brother Anthony

Guest Columns

  • Zhu Rongji's legacy of demographic decline

    MADISON — Following former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji’s recent death at the age of 97, homages poured in for a man widely credited with championing the market-oriented reforms that drove decades of rapid economic growth. Yet the two most emblematic reforms of his tenure, a 1994 tax-sharing policy and China’s 2001 accession to the World Trade Organization, did not only fuel robust growth. They also reshaped and partly distorted China’s economic structure and the global economy more broadly, with profound and lasting implications for the country’s political and demographic outlook. After launching the first market-oriented reforms, China pursued fiscal decentralization policies that increased household disposable income as a share of GDP from 44 percent in 1978 to 62 percent in 1983. As these reforms unleashed greater dynamism in the private economy, popular demands for democracy grew as well. Combined with an unusually high share of 15- to 29-year-olds, a demographic group that is especially likely to drive social change, these factors ultimately contributed to the 1989 pro-d

    4 MIN READBy Yi Fuxian

  • Open letter to new US envoy Michelle Steel

    The new U.S. ambassador to South Korea is a diplomat who represents the president and government of the United States and advances American national interests. It would therefore be inappropriate to expect the newly arrived Ambassador Michelle Steel to advocate South Korea’s position simply because she is Korean American. Major policy questions involving shipbuilding, nuclear energy and security require deliberation and coordination among the White House, the State Department, the Defense Department, the Energy Department and Congress. At the same time, an ambassador should not be viewed merely as a messenger. An ambassador serves as a vital diplomatic channel who accurately explains the host country’s strategic value and public sentiment to Washington, identifies common ground when the two countries’ interests diverge and helps translate agreements between their leaders into concrete policies. A former politician with extensive experience and personal networks in both Congress and the Donald Trump administration can be particularly effective in facilitating policy change. In thi

    5 MIN READBy Moon Keun-sik

Tribune Service

  • Nolan's 'Odyssey' has a worthy French competitor

    The political movie of the year tells the story of an odyssey: A grizzled war veteran in exile, desperate to return home to his family and country, leading a rump of an army through impossible odds as massacres, vengeance and mutiny rage. No, not Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, but La Bataille de Gaulle: A two-part World War II drama about Charles de Gaulle that has taken France by storm a year ahead of elections. The pair of films, clocking in at a total of 320 minutes, has sold 4 million tickets in French theaters — not far off the mighty Odyssey itself — amid a wider 20% rebound in cinema attendance. The film is now set to land in international markets, including the UK. There are many reasons for the film’s success at home, aside from it being very good; word-of-mouth support has helped, as has the heatwave pushing people into air-conditioned theaters. It also helps that the story of de Gaulle’s refusal to surrender in 1940 as the state’s military and morality collapsed is the kind of authentic display of heroism the French might be craving as they potentially sleepwal

    3 MIN READBy Lionel Laurent

  • Florida Democrats aren't in disarray. They're in disagreement

    Florida demonstrated on Tuesday that the Democratic Party’s identity crisis is alive and well. It’s the latest signal that while the midterm election will be a referendum on the president’s performance, it’s also a major test of the Democratic Party’s ability to bridge its growing divide. David Jolly, the moderate former Republican congressman, will top Florida’s Democratic ticket in November in the race for governor. Angie Nixon, a state representative from the progressive left, will be the party’s nominee for U.S. Senate. Shortly after Nixon was declared the winner, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, an election analysis newsletter, shifted its handicapping of Florida’s U.S. Senate race from “likely Republican” to “safe Republican.” Although today Florida is seen as solid MAGA country, not that long ago, it was a swing state considered essential in a presidential race. (President Barack Obama won it twice.) But Democrats face an uphill battle in making it competitive again. Tuesday’s primary results tell a tale of two extremes. Jolly, who left the Republican Party afte

    4 MIN READBy Mary Ellen Klas

  • Trump ignores joint efforts by his favorite dictators to undermine US security

    4 MIN READBy Trudy Rubin

Columnists

  • Park Jung-won

    Park Jung-won, Ph.D. in law from the London School of Economics (LSE), is a professor of international law at Dankook University.

  • Steven L. Shields

    Steven L. Shields has lived in Korea for many years, beginning in the 1970s. He served as copy editor of The Korea Times in 1977.

  • Daniel Shin

    Daniel Shin is a venture capitalist and senior luxury fashion executive, overseeing corporate development at MCM, a German luxury brand.

  • Bernard Rowan

    Bernard Rowan is an associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University.

  • Michael Breen

    Michael Breen is the CEO of Insight Communications Consultants, a public relations company, and author of "The Koreans" and "Kim Jong-il: North Korea's Dear Leader."

  • Chun In-bum

    Chun In-bum is the former commander of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command.

Read more

Song Kyung-jin

Trapped in K-shaped economy

Is Korea trapped in a K-shaped economy? Likely so. While a few sectors, most notably semiconductors, are experiencing euphoria from record-high profits, a far greater number of sectors are witnessing plunging profitability and stagnant job growth. The structural problems within the Korean economy are deepening socioeconomic polarization and driving a distinct K-shaped growth pattern. As of July 2026, Korea's economic growth forecast for the year has been revised upward significantly on the back of strong growth in the semiconductor, IT and shipbuilding sectors. The Ministry of Economy and Finance projected this year's growth rate at 3.0 percent, while the IMF upped it to 2.6 percent from its April forecast of 1.9 percent. Investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan raised it to 3.2 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. It is a significant jump from the growth rate of 1.1 percent in 2025 and 2.2 percent in 2024. Driven by robust exports, the country is posting a current account surplus of 5.6 percent, one of the largest among major economies, next to Taiwan’s 18.1 percent. Ho

18h agoBy Song Kyung-jin
Trapped in K-shaped economy
Tribune Service

Nolan's 'Odyssey' has a worthy French competitor

The political movie of the year tells the story of an odyssey: A grizzled war veteran in exile, desperate to return home to his family and country, leading a rump of an army through impossible odds as massacres, vengeance and mutiny rage. No, not Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, but La Bataille de Gaulle: A two-part World War II drama about Charles de Gaulle that has taken France by storm a year ahead of elections. The pair of films, clocking in at a total of 320 minutes, has sold 4 million tickets in French theaters — not far off the mighty Odyssey itself — amid a wider 20% rebound in cinema attendance. The film is now set to land in international markets, including the UK. There are many reasons for the film’s success at home, aside from it being very good; word-of-mouth support has helped, as has the heatwave pushing people into air-conditioned theaters. It also helps that the story of de Gaulle’s refusal to surrender in 1940 as the state’s military and morality collapsed is the kind of authentic display of heroism the French might be craving as they potentially sleepwal

21h agoBy Lionel Laurent
Park Jung-won

COLUMN Trump-Kim deal at South Korea's expense?

Washington voiced displeasure; Seoul responded with respect. Few scenes better capture the disconnect in the U.S.-South Korea alliance. President Donald Trump ordered a major reduction in joint U.S.-South Korea military drills, saying they cost too much and send a hostile signal to North Korea. He made no secret of his displeasure with South Korea for not supporting U.S. military action against Iran. Yet he spoke warmly of Kim Jong-un and said he wanted to meet him this year. Seoul’s response was unexpected. President Lee Jae Myung praised Trump’s decision as an effort for peace on the Korean Peninsula and expressed his “respect.” Days earlier, Lee had stressed self-reliant defense, citing South Korea’s world-class military and defense industry, while vowing to regain wartime operational control within his term. Pyongyang seized on the contradiction. The North Korean leader's sister, Kim Yo-jong, mocked Seoul for claiming ample capacity to defend itself while scaling back joint exercises at Trump’s word. She also called Seoul’s attempt to alter a Northeast Asian balance sh

21h agoBy Park Jung-won
[COLUMN] Trump-Kim deal at South Korea's expense?
Steven L. Shields

A trip to Korea's newest city

Earlier this summer, I took a short out-of-town trip to Gwangju, only to discover that a week before I arrived, the city had been disbanded and was no more! Officially launched on July 1st this year, Korea’s newest city is one of its largest by land area: South Jeolla Province and Gwangju Metropolitan City have merged to form Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City. The city government of Gwangju was disbanded, but the existing districts are maintained in the new governmental structure. Smaller cities in the former province, as well as counties, will keep their original designations. The new special city has five districts, five cities and 17 counties. Yeosu, Mokpo, Suncheon, Gwangyang and Naju will continue to be designated as cities. Administrative divisions could be adjusted as the merger settles into place and as population shifts. I think the English language version of the city name is still a work in progress. I’ve seen a couple of other renditions, such as “Gwangju Special City” (which might provoke the ire of the rest of the region) and the literal translation of the

1d agoBy Steven L. Shields
A trip to Korea's newest city
Daniel Shin

Attention economy: Battle in the age of AI

Attention is priceless. In a distracted world, focus is the most limited resource, the new currency for success. In the digital age, platforms compete for moments of focus, not just for market share or profitability. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), this competition has intensified and transformed, creating a new phase of the attention economy that is supposed to be more personalized, predictive and pervasive than ever before. We are inundated by an abundance of information. Information is no longer scarce. Instead, individuals are swamped with content from social media, news outlets, streaming platforms and more. In such an environment, attention becomes a limiting factor. As AI-generated content floods digital platforms, it is more difficult to distinguish authentic, high-quality human-generated content. What AI brings to this landscape is an unprecedented ability to filter, curate and generate content tailored to individual preferences. Algorithms can now analyze vast amounts of behavioral data such as what users click, how long they linger and what they skip to refine

1d agoBy Daniel Shin
Guest Columns

Zhu Rongji's legacy of demographic decline

MADISON — Following former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji’s recent death at the age of 97, homages poured in for a man widely credited with championing the market-oriented reforms that drove decades of rapid economic growth. Yet the two most emblematic reforms of his tenure, a 1994 tax-sharing policy and China’s 2001 accession to the World Trade Organization, did not only fuel robust growth. They also reshaped and partly distorted China’s economic structure and the global economy more broadly, with profound and lasting implications for the country’s political and demographic outlook. After launching the first market-oriented reforms, China pursued fiscal decentralization policies that increased household disposable income as a share of GDP from 44 percent in 1978 to 62 percent in 1983. As these reforms unleashed greater dynamism in the private economy, popular demands for democracy grew as well. Combined with an unusually high share of 15- to 29-year-olds, a demographic group that is especially likely to drive social change, these factors ultimately contributed to the 1989 pro-d

1d agoBy Yi Fuxian
Zhu Rongji's legacy of demographic decline
Tribune Service

Florida Democrats aren't in disarray. They're in disagreement

Florida demonstrated on Tuesday that the Democratic Party’s identity crisis is alive and well. It’s the latest signal that while the midterm election will be a referendum on the president’s performance, it’s also a major test of the Democratic Party’s ability to bridge its growing divide. David Jolly, the moderate former Republican congressman, will top Florida’s Democratic ticket in November in the race for governor. Angie Nixon, a state representative from the progressive left, will be the party’s nominee for U.S. Senate. Shortly after Nixon was declared the winner, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, an election analysis newsletter, shifted its handicapping of Florida’s U.S. Senate race from “likely Republican” to “safe Republican.” Although today Florida is seen as solid MAGA country, not that long ago, it was a swing state considered essential in a presidential race. (President Barack Obama won it twice.) But Democrats face an uphill battle in making it competitive again. Tuesday’s primary results tell a tale of two extremes. Jolly, who left the Republican Party afte

1d agoBy Mary Ellen Klas
Tribune Service

Trump ignores joint efforts by his favorite dictators to undermine US security

He’s become world famous for embracing America’s enemies and backstabbing our allies. Yet, President Donald Trump outdid himself Sunday — on the eve of joint military exercises with South Korea — when he announced the U.S. was scaling back participation to avoid offending his great friend, the nuclear-armed North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Perhaps this was just a frantic attempt to shift attention from the quagmire in Iran. Having failed to end Tehran’s nuclear program, the president is offering nuclear talks “without preconditions” to Kim. You will recall the two “fell in love” after Kim wrote Trump “beautiful letters” in 2018, and he responded in kind. The military exercises, Trump said, would be “inappropriate and hostile” to a country that “has been unthreatening and respectful” during his presidency. Unthreatening? Respectful? Anything but. Kim humiliated Trump after meetings in 2018 and 2019 by rejecting nuclear talks and massively increasing his stock of nuclear weapons and missiles. He’s made clear he wants U.S. recognition as a nuclear power, on

1d agoBy Trudy Rubin
Trump ignores joint efforts by his favorite dictators to undermine US security
Bernard Rowan

The value of Confucianism

Thinking of my first visit to Seoul, I remember a particular interaction. My friend, his eldest son and I left their apartment building. We took the elevator down and arrived on the first floor. As we exited, an older woman, who appeared to be a household worker, was entering the elevator. My friend made the special effort to have his son bow to her and to greet her with the phrase, “Good morning, ajumeoni.” The bowing took some assistance, but not much. His son was quite young, and I think this was his first time seeing the ajumma. It struck me as very polite but natural or customary, and I inquired as to who she was. This was one of my first lessons about ajumma in Korea. This was a simple example of building familial bonds of mutual respect by a professor and his son for a woman unrelated to them and not employed by them, but someone, if not from the street, then a stranger, but in a role familiar to the parent. The ajumma was not a peer or from a high-born family by all appearances. My friend wanted his son to learn the behaviors of respect, avoidance of scapegoating and regard

2d agoBy Bernard Rowan
The value of Confucianism
Tribune Service

How the media can earn back America's trust

The freedom of the press is one of America’s greatest protections against unchecked power. But freedom carries responsibility, and journalism cannot demand the public’s trust simply because the Constitution protects our right to publish. We must earn it. That responsibility has become more urgent as confidence in journalism has collapsed. Gallup reported last year that only 28 percent of Americans had a great deal or fair amount of confidence that newspapers, television and radio report the news fully, accurately and fairly, the lowest level since Gallup began asking the question in 1972. Those numbers should trouble every journalist, editor, publisher and media owner in America. The Fourth Estate was never intended to become an extension of the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, corporate America or any ideological movement. Our obligation is not to protect politicians we admire or destroy those we dislike. It is not to tell readers what they should think. Our responsibility is to pursue the truth and give citizens the information necessary to think for themselves. That means que

2d ago
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